When I first added Pisa to my Italy itinerary, I honestly thought it would be a quick stop to snap the classic Leaning Tower photo, maybe grab a gelato, and then move on. But the moment I walked out of the train station and wandered toward the Piazza dei Miracoli, I realized how much more this little city has to offer. The medieval stone buildings glowed in the afternoon light, students were zipping past me on bicycles, and the Arno River cut quietly through town, reflecting pastel-colored facades. Pisa might be small, but it has layers of history and rhythm that reward anyone who slows down long enough to notice.
This guide is all about how I spent one day in Pisa: from climbing those famous tilting steps to lingering in quieter corners where the crowds thin out. If you only have 24 hours, I’ll help you make them count.
Quick One-Day Pisa Itinerary at a Glance
When I look back on my day in Pisa, I realize how naturally it unfolded. I started early, which turned out to be the best decision. The Piazza dei Miracoli feels almost otherworldly before the tour buses arrive, the marble still cool from the night, the lawns quiet, and just a handful of travelers snapping photos. That calm window set the tone for the whole morning.
Morning: Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery
I headed straight for the Leaning Tower first thing, climbing those famous 273 steps while the air was still crisp. The tilt made the climb feel strange, almost as if I was walking uphill and downhill at the same time, but when I reached the top and saw the rooftops of Pisa against the Tuscan hills, it was worth every step. Afterward, I slipped into the Cathedral and Baptistery, both still relatively uncrowded. Inside the Duomo, golden mosaics shimmered in the half-light, and in the Baptistery, I paused just long enough to catch the guide’s acoustic demonstration. The notes hung in the air like magic.
Midday: Camposanto and Lunch by the River
By late morning, the piazza was buzzing with people, so I retreated into the quieter Camposanto. Its long marble corridors lined with frescoes felt almost like a secret escape. After that, I followed the narrow streets down to the Arno River. The pace instantly changed: pastel-colored houses leaned over the water, laundry hung from balconies, and locals biked by as if the Tower didn’t even exist. I found a trattoria with outdoor tables and ordered a plate of pasta and a glass of white wine. It was simple, but after a busy morning, sitting there in the shade with the river just a few steps away felt like the perfect reset.
Afternoon: Borgo Stretto and Piazza dei Cavalieri
The afternoon was for wandering without much of a plan. Borgo Stretto drew me in with its arcaded sidewalks and lively mix of cafés and shops. I lingered in a small bookstore, then treated myself to a gelato before continuing to Piazza dei Cavalieri. The square felt open and calm, a world away from the tourist crowds. Once the heart of Pisa’s political power, today it’s filled with students spilling out of classrooms. I sat on a bench for a while, listening to the rhythm of the conversations around me, feeling less like a visitor and more like I’d slipped into the city’s daily life.
Evening: Sunset on the Arno and Santa Maria della Spina
As the day wound down, I wandered back toward the river. Pisa glows at sunset, the façades along the Arno reflect warm gold and rose tones, and the water mirrors every shade. I stopped on Ponte di Mezzo to watch the light change, gelato in hand, before detouring to Santa Maria della Spina. The tiny Gothic church looked almost like a jewel box perched on the riverbank. It was a quiet and fitting last stop, just as the sky turned deep orange and the city began to exhale into evening.
Planning Before You Go
Book Your Leaning Tower Ticket Early
If you only take away one tip, let it be this: buy your Leaning Tower ticket online before you even set foot in Pisa. Tickets are limited to specific time slots, and by the time I arrived, most of the same-day ones were long gone. I reserved mine weeks ahead and felt a small thrill when I skipped the line at the booth. The climb itself is only 273 steps, but because the staircase leans, your body feels off-balance in a funny way almost like you’re being pulled sideways. At the top, I stood catching my breath while the whole of Pisa stretched out below, the Tuscan hills rolling off in the distance.
Cathedral and Baptistery Access
Many people assume the Cathedral is included with the Tower ticket, but it’s actually separate. Entry to the Duomo itself is free, though you’ll need to grab a timed pass. Since I already had my Tower ticket, I was given access automatically, but it’s something worth double-checking when you plan. Inside, the Duomo took me by surprise: mosaics shimmered in the dim light, and the wooden ceiling was more ornate than I expected. Right next door is the Baptistery, which you do have to pay for, but it ended up being one of my favorite stops. When the guide sang to demonstrate the acoustics, the echo lasted several seconds, wrapping the whole room in sound. It was one of those moments where I just stood still and smiled.
Getting There
Most travelers, myself included, arrive through Pisa Centrale. From there, you can walk to the Piazza dei Miracoli in about 20–25 minutes, but with a suitcase in hand I opted for the local bus. It was quick, cheap, and dropped me close to the entrance. If you’re lucky enough to arrive at Pisa S. Rossore station, you’re only a ten-minute walk away, which feels like cheating compared to the trek from Centrale. Either way, if you’re carrying bags, take advantage of the lockers at Centrale or grab a taxi. You’ll enjoy the piazza much more with free hands.
Morning in the Piazza dei Miracoli
The Leaning Tower
There’s no getting around it: the Leaning Tower is the star of Pisa. I booked the first available time slot in the morning, which turned out to be the best decision. The lawn was still quiet, and I got to watch the sunlight hit the white marble before the crowds packed in. Climbing it felt surreal. The tilt messes with your balance, and at one point I caught myself leaning against the wall just to steady myself. At the top, bells hung silently above me, and the red rooftops of Pisa looked like puzzle pieces laid out to the horizon.
The Duomo
Right next door, the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta) is often overshadowed by its famous neighbor, but it’s just as worthy of time. The façade looks like layers of lace carved in stone, and the closer you stand, the more details you notice. Inside, I slowed down at Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit, with its twisting columns and sculpted figures. Light streamed through high windows, catching on gilded mosaics and painting parts of the marble floor gold. It felt like stepping back into the height of medieval Pisa, when the city was powerful enough to build something so extravagant.
The Baptistery
From the outside, the Baptistery looks massive but somewhat plain. Step inside, though, and it’s another story. Its dome is perfectly engineered to carry sound, and when the guide sang a short scale, the note lingered in the air long after he stopped. I sat on the stone bench along the wall, just listening, and the space felt almost alive. The pulpit by Nicola Pisano is another detail to admire, but for me, it was that brief sound demonstration that made the building unforgettable.
The Camposanto
By the time I reached Camposanto, I was grateful for the calm. After the bustle around the Tower and Cathedral, its cloistered walkways felt like a deep breath. The long marble corridors hold ancient sarcophagi and frescoes, some faded and others restored, that tell stories of heaven, hell, and everything in between. I walked slowly, letting the quiet settle in. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t demand much from you, and maybe that’s why it stood out to me.
Afternoon Wandering
Borgo Stretto
After leaving the Piazza dei Miracoli, I wanted to see a different side of Pisa, one with fewer tour groups and more of the city’s daily life. Borgo Stretto was the perfect place for that. It’s a narrow street lined with arcades, boutiques, cafés, and gelato shops. Students walked past me with books tucked under their arms, locals paused to chat in the shade, and I found myself slowing down to window shop. The arcades provided relief from the sun, and the cobblestones made me imagine what this street must have felt like hundreds of years ago.
I ducked into a small café for a macchiato, and it struck me how quickly the vibe shifted from touristy to lived-in. Here, the pace was slower, the prices a little lower, and I could sit for a few minutes and watch the flow of everyday Pisa.
Piazza dei Cavalieri
A short walk from Borgo Stretto brought me to Piazza dei Cavalieri. Compared to the buzz of the Miracoli, this square felt open and airy, with just a handful of people scattered around. It used to be the political heart of Pisa, but now it belongs mostly to the university. The façade of the Palazzo della Carovana, with its graffito decorations and statues, caught my eye immediately. There’s something powerful about standing in a place that’s been a center of power for centuries but now echoes with students’ footsteps instead of soldiers’.
I lingered on one of the benches, listening to conversations in Italian around me, and it was one of the few moments in Pisa where I felt like I wasn’t just passing through, I was part of the rhythm of the city.
Santa Maria della Spina
On my way back toward the Arno, I almost missed Santa Maria della Spina. It’s tiny, tucked right along the riverbank, but its Gothic spires and detailed carvings stop you in your tracks once you notice it. The white marble against the blue of the river and the sky made it one of the prettiest little surprises of the day. It only takes a few minutes to admire, but it’s the kind of place that makes you glad you slowed down and looked closer.
Evening in Pisa
By late afternoon, I was ready to just wander without an agenda. The Arno River is where Pisa softens into something truly beautiful at this time of day. The buildings along the river are painted in soft yellows, pinks, and oranges, and when the sun begins to set, they seem to glow. I found myself pausing at Ponte di Mezzo, watching the light ripple on the water while students and families gathered along the banks.
Golden hour in Pisa has a quiet magic to it. The crowds thin, the day cools, and the city feels like it exhales. I grabbed a gelato and sat near the river, watching cyclists pass and couples leaning on the railing, soaking in the last warmth of the day.
If you’re staying overnight, evening is also the best time for aperitivo. I ordered a spritz at a riverside bar, and along with it came a little tray of olives, chips, and nuts the perfect way to end the day without rushing off to a full dinner. It was here, sitting with a drink and watching the city wind down, that I felt like I’d truly experienced Pisa, not just visited it.
Lunch by the River
By the time I stepped out of the Camposanto, I was ready for a pause. The morning had been packed with climbing towers, craning my neck at mosaics, and weaving through crowds, and I wanted somewhere quieter to refuel. The Arno River was calling.
It only takes about ten minutes to walk from the Piazza dei Miracoli to the river, and the shift in atmosphere is immediate. The crowds thin out, the streets get narrower, and suddenly you’re surrounded by pastel-colored buildings leaning slightly toward the water. When I reached the riverbank, I stopped just to take it in: shutters painted in green and blue, laundry hanging from balconies, and reflections dancing on the surface of the Arno.
For lunch, there are plenty of options. If you’re hungry for a proper sit-down meal, trattorias along the river serve hearty Tuscan fare, think seafood pasta tossed with clams, or a simple margherita pizza pulled from a wood-fired oven. I chose a place with outdoor seating, ordered a plate of cacio e pepe, and let the breeze off the water cool me down. The carafes of house wine here are often inexpensive and surprisingly good, so I treated myself to a glass of white.
If you’re short on time or just want something lighter, the panini shops nearby are excellent. Grab a sandwich stuffed with prosciutto and pecorino, then carry it down to the river steps for an impromptu picnic. That’s what I saw most of the students doing, and it looked like a pretty perfect routine.
Of course, no Italian lunch is complete without gelato. I found a small gelateria a block away and couldn’t resist pistachio and stracciatella. Sitting on the river wall with my cone, I felt like I had shifted from tourist mode into traveler mode just enjoying Pisa at its own pace.
Extra Time in and Around Pisa
If you’re lucky enough to have more than a single day in Pisa, the city becomes an even better jumping-off point. While one day is plenty to enjoy the Leaning Tower and the Arno, I couldn’t help but think about how close Pisa is to some of Tuscany’s most rewarding spots.
Lucca: A Walk on the Walls
The first place I’d suggest is Lucca, only about 25 minutes away by train. I went there on another trip and fell in love instantly. The city is encircled by Renaissance walls so wide you can cycle or stroll along the top, with trees lining the path and views into the old town below. Inside the walls, Lucca feels quieter than Pisa cobblestone alleys, hidden piazzas, and churches that seem to appear around every corner. I rented a bike for an hour and just circled the town, stopping for a cappuccino in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, a square built on the footprint of an ancient Roman amphitheater. If you’re craving something a little slower and less crowded after Pisa, Lucca is the perfect balance.
Cinque Terre: A Long Day with Coastal Views
If you have a full extra day, consider heading to Cinque Terre. From Pisa, it’s about an hour and a half by train to La Spezia, where you can hop on the regional train that links the five villages. I still remember stepping off at Vernazza and seeing the colorful houses stacked against the cliffs with the Ligurian Sea stretching out behind them. Hiking between the villages gives you postcard views at every turn, though even just visiting one or two towns by train makes for a memorable day. It’s a longer journey compared to Lucca, but if you’ve dreamed of Cinque Terre, Pisa is a convenient starting point.
Livorno: For Seafood Lovers
Another option, especially if you’re into food, is Livorno, Pisa’s port city about 30 minutes away by train. It doesn’t have the polished beauty of Lucca or Cinque Terre, but it makes up for it with character and incredible seafood. The canals in the Venezia Nuova district make for a fun stroll, and the seafood cacciucco, a rich Tuscan fish stew, is worth the trip alone.
If you’re planning your itinerary, my advice would be this: dedicate one full day to Pisa so you can climb the Tower, soak up the Piazza dei Miracoli, and wander by the Arno without feeling rushed. Then, if you can stretch your trip by a day or two, let Lucca or Cinque Terre show you a different side of Tuscany. Pisa is the headline act, but the region around it is full of encore-worthy moments.
Conclusion
Spending a day in Pisa surprised me in the best way. I arrived expecting the Leaning Tower to be the highlight, and while it certainly was unforgettable, it was the little moments that stayed with me the echo inside the Baptistery, a quiet bench in Piazza dei Cavalieri, a gelato melting too quickly as I leaned on the river wall. Pisa has a way of showing you more than you expect if you give it the time.
If you’re planning a trip through Tuscany, I’d say dedicate at least one full day here. See the famous sights, wander into the side streets, and let yourself slow down along the Arno. And if you’ve been before, I’d love to hear what part of Pisa stood out most to you?
